What reaction, if any, can we expect from Verizon in regards to the T-Mobile program to pay early cancellations fees? (This is sort of a 2-part question)

[D-Dub]

A brief rundown here...over the last 7 or 8 years, I've had 2 carriers, T-Mobile, with whom I was pretty happy and then Verizon for the majority of that time, due to a friend of mine working there. He is no longer with the company, however. Here's the dilemma. Today, I managed to slam my Samsung Brightside in a car door (jacket pocket, jacket not all the way out) and the sole redeeming feature of that otherwise useless phone is that it took repeated drops to the floor really well. I have probably dropped that thing more than my previous 4 phones combined and maybe squared.

Anyway, the long and short of it is that the Brightside is no longer under the 12 month warranty and it doesn't look like I really have any good options here, aside from trying to hunt down a used one and suffering through another year of a phone I increasingly detest. If I have to get a smartphone, I may as well look at making a move to whoever is going to charge me less for services fees, etc. and right now that is T-Mobile. The basic questions here are: is Verizon going to get to be price competitive and for my particular situation, what can Verizon do for me specifically?

I will be in a Verizon store tomorrow, but a few of the deals that are attractive seem to also be internet only. I am looking to be back in order tomorrow, one way or the other, as my phone is not really functional at all, so if anyone at Verizon has some answers or solutions to keep me in the house of Big Red, I'd love to hear them...quick.

Feel free to email me directly if you want, but don't bother calling...for the reason mentioned. Thanks.

[D-Dub]

Actually, Helen, I hated the Brightside. Easily the worst phone I've owned and probably one of the worst I've seen put out by any carrier. Should have checked the reviews before throwing in on it. I definitely do not want it back and not having that phone is not too tragic for me. All my pics went to an SD card, so even though I had to buy an adapter (YAY Brew OS!) so I could retrieve them on my computer, I didn't really lose anything except all my txt messages and being disconnected for a while, which wasn't too problematic from a business sense.

I really had no issues with T-Mobile's service and I used to travel very extensively nationwide at the time. A friend of mine just switched from T-Mobile to Verizon and has told me he finds no difference at all, except for much higher bills and very odd data charges...

[HelenT]

I'm not all that thrilled with the Brightside either to be honest. 

I had a phone prior to the Brightside that I loved, but it died.  Everything available as far as dumbphones was honestly a downgrade from that one.  Buying a used Brightside was better than the ones they wanted me to buy brand new.  I mean what does that tell you...ya know?!

I realize times have changed, and the smartphones are going to be the decent phones from now on.  Anything else but those you have to deal with.  My type of account is not something I guess they make enough money on.  It is what it is I guess.  At the time turning to smartphones would have incurred $30/mo x 4 phones.  Thanks, but no thanks!

My Sister in Law is a banker, and uses T Mobile.  She can't afford to be out of touch with her business, and has no issues here at all.  We checked the coverage area online for places we frequent.  The husband's tree stand location would be 2G, but he just wants to make calls - not surf the web anyway.  We are talking about couple of weeks in the year too.

I can get us Samsung Lights for $150 on HSN, and then pay less per month...and we all have smartphones.  That includes one upcharge for data on the Husband's phone.  The Teenagers can fork the money out themselves each month if they want more data than they get.  If they go over their data limits they are slowed down to a crawl, and we aren't dinged each month for extra data.  I don't want to babysit the data each month to be honest.  That also was very attractive.  I shouldn't have to pay my carrier an extra charge for them to do it - that's nuts!  All I wanted was to check email, and it would be $10/mo more than what we are paying now with Verizon.  So T Mobile with their lowest data section is okay with me - and its less money than we are paying now.  MORE for less in other words.

We plan to sit on this for a month, and seriously think about it.  I would rather save for my retirement than pay more for a cell phone bill each month JUST to get smartphones.  We have been with them forever, but I also know we aren't their target audience either.  I think that is just the reality of it for us.  They won't be banging down our doors to keep us.

[vzw_customer_support]

We certainly don't want to lose you, HelenT. I understand that with a family full of smartphones cost can be a concern. Have you reviewed our new Share Everything plan to see if this would be more beneficial to you? http://vz.to/W24dla

YosefT_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[D-Dub]

The Share Everything plan is a (small) step in the right direction, but by my comparisons, Verizon is still the most expensive. I will continue monitoring the plans and see if anything changes, but the bottom line is that it is still insufficient. I don't mind paying a bit more for Verizon (have done so basically since I switched from T-Mobile some years back), but pushing $100 more per month is out of the question. Even half of that more per month is out of the question.

[vzw_customer_support]

It would sadden us to see you leave us D-Dub. I know how frustrating it can be when you break your device. I understand your devie warranty has expired. We would be happy to look over alternate equipment replacement options.

Are you eligible to upgrade? You may dial #UPG send to check. Ifyou are eligible, you have the ability to purchase another basic device. It is not required to upgrade to a smartphone device. To view our online deals on basic devices click, http://vz.to/1h7GnNW

Did you have insurance on your device? If so, you may file an insurance claim to replace your device. To file a claim click, http://bit.ly/07CrqPK 

If there is no insurance on your device, we offer a certified like-new replacement devices. For more info on our Certified like-new replacement program, click http://vz.to/16vfYHl


Thank You,
MichelleL_VZW
VZW Support
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSUPPORT

[D-Dub]

Thank you, Verizon Michelle, but no need for another device at this point. I found one elsewhere. Not to be combative, but the answers to every one of your questions are in this thread in my posts. I would direct you there.

I was very interested in a Certified Pre-Owned at the time, but I needed something immediately and all of the stores told me explicitly that they did not have used phones and further, didn't sell them at all. If waiting was an option, I would have considered online, but mostly I couldn't wait the 2 days or whatever expedited was.

That part is basically concluded, however. What I'm trying to determine now is whether Verizon intends on making their smartphone price-attractive enough for me to upgrade to that when my contract is up or when my patience wears out, whichever is first. If Verizon insists on being that much more expensive than say T-Mobile, perhaps it could be explained to me how it is valuable to that extent, given that I have had both services. 

It saddens me that Verizon could not be there when I needed them, but you still have a chance...

[msbaseball1974]

My sister currently has T-Mobile in the Chicagoland area, and her coverage is horrible. When she visits me in Minnesota, it's just as lousy. She only has 6 months left on her T-Mobile contract, and the minute it is up, she is switching to Verizon and sharing a plan with me. If Verizon offers the the same thing as T-Mobile (to buy out contracts), we'll be signing up this weekend. I've had coverage everywhere I go with Verizon, and I'm thrilled with the customer service.

[rcschnoor]

Unfortunately it is doubtful Verizon will offer to pay your sister's ETF anytime soon.

[msbaseball1974]

Agreed - but hey, you never know until you ask

[walter4396]

to anonymuss - do you work for Verizon? You seem very vested in defending them...  Verizon makes It incredibly difficult to reach a live person for customer service.  Why?  I should be easily able to get a phone # for them on their website, but I can't... Why?  I am their customer & have been for more than 10 yrs.  Why wouldn't they want me to be able to speak to them on the phone I pay them for every month?

[#12]

I am not the person you are answering, but its easy to get a hold of Verizon wireless. On the top of each page there is a CONTACT US link. It has the telephone numbers. *611 or 1-800-922-0204

People that work for Verizon wireless have an Avatar that shows they work for the company. All the rest are just customers like you and I.

Good Luck

[AZSALUKI]

walter4396 wrote:

to anonymuss - do you work for Verizon? You seem very vested in defending them...  Verizon makes It incredibly difficult to reach a live person for customer service.  Why?  I should be easily able to get a phone # for them on their website, but I can't... Why?  I am their customer & have been for more than 10 yrs.  Why wouldn't they want me to be able to speak to them on the phone I pay them for every month?

from THIS page you can click "contact us" in the upper right corner, and then click "phone" towards the bottom right. i'm not sure how much easier they could make it.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hi Walter4396,

We want contacting us to be easy! I apologize if this is not occuring. You can use our contact us page http://vz.to/19bXyZu to talk to someone via Live Chat, Verizon Wireless Community, Social Media via Twitter or Facebook, or by Phone. You can click on "Phone" >then I need help with finding device or account support> our customer service numbers (1-800-922-0204 ) are listed and a shortcuts to reach customer service from your phone.

Thanks,
PamelaF_VZW
Tweet us @vzwsupport

[rcschnoor]

Verizon Wireless Customer Support wrote:

We want contacting us to be easy!

Thanks,
PamelaF_VZW
Tweet us @vzwsupport

 

, many would tend to disagree with your statement as email would be the EASIEST way to contact for MANY users, let alone being the preferred method. Not everyone has a Facebook OR Twitter account, nor does everyone want one and/or how it even works. There are MANY on these forums who claim LOOOONNNNGGGG wait times when calling in. While I have NEVER experienced long wait times when calling CS, I will take them at their word. This leaves email which would be the easiest way for MANY users.

If Verizon REALLY was sincere about making contact easier, it never would have taken away the option of email.

[pherson]

You cannot decipher or troubleshoot issues over printed word. Calling or going in the store is the best preferred method. By print is akin to wanting to go through the drive thru - it's because you're (not u specifically) are lazy and want instant gratification. I've never had long hold times either.

[denbush]

I find nothing compelling to stay with Verizon.  I have all major networks available in my area.  Having been a long term customer of Verizon I don't understand how their new plans, which don't even come close to what ATT came out with, benefits me.  The share everything would have cost me $50 more, and now these more of everything cost nothing less.   My two lines with one having unlimited data and the other 2gb exceed what ATT offers for four phones.  Have already moved my parents off Verizion with their basic phones and now I guess I will be leaving as well.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hi denbush,

That definitely sounds alarming! We want you to always stay with the best provider in the Nation. I can confirm that our pricing is very competitive when compared to AT&T. The new plan that AT&T is marketing would require you to finance your device or bring a compatible GSM model. The finance charges are what they leave out, or as some people call the fine print. You can expect to pay anywhere from $15-$30 additional per line to utilize this plan based upon which devices you select. Yes, 10GB for $160 sounds great. However, once you add the device charges this price does climb at an alarming rate. Have you review our newest offerings http://vz.to/W24dla? Please keep us posted, thanks!

MatthewS_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSUPPORT

[vzw_customer_support]

tommyman, we're disturbed to hear that you feel this way about visiting our store locations. It's our goal to ensure that D-Dub has the best customer service experience when he comes to see us. What happened to make you feel this way? Your feedback will be appreciated as it allows us to hear your voice and recommendations on how we can be better for you. 

For your convenience, click http://vz.to/3SdsA for the closest store location.

LasinaH_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport